Heathen: meaning, definitions and examples
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heathen
[ ˈhiː.ðən ]
religion
A person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially one who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim) as regarded by those who do.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The missionaries tried to convert the heathens to Christianity.
- The heathen beliefs of the indigenous tribes clashed with the colonizers' religion.
informal
A person regarded as irreligious, uncivilized, or unenlightened.
Synonyms
barbarian, savage, uncivilized person
Examples of usage
- The heathens at the party were more interested in drinking than discussing philosophy.
- The professor referred to the students who skipped his lectures as heathens.
Translations
Translations of the word "heathen" in other languages:
🇵🇹 pagão
- infiel
- herege
🇮🇳 अधर्मी
- विधर्मी
- काफिर
🇩🇪 Heide
- Ungläubiger
- Heidenmensch
🇮🇩 kafir
- penyembah berhala
- orang tak beriman
🇺🇦 язичник
- безбожник
- невірний
🇵🇱 poganin
- niewierny
- heretyk
🇯🇵 異教徒
- 不信仰者
- 異端者
🇫🇷 païen
- infidèle
- hérétique
🇪🇸 pagano
- infiel
- hereje
🇹🇷 putperest
- kâfir
- dinsiz
🇰🇷 이교도
- 불신자
- 이단자
🇸🇦 وثني
- كافر
- زنديق
🇨🇿 pohan
- nevěřící
- kacíř
🇸🇰 pohan
- neveriaci
- kacíř
🇨🇳 异教徒
- 不信者
- 异端者
🇸🇮 pogan
- nevernik
- heretik
🇮🇸 heiðingi
- vantrúarmaður
- trúvillingur
🇰🇿 пұтқа табынушы
- кәпір
- дінсіз
🇬🇪 ურჯულო
- უღმერთო
- მწვალებელი
🇦🇿 pütpərəst
- kafir
- dinsiz
🇲🇽 pagano
- infiel
- hereje
Word origin
The word 'heathen' originated from the Old English term 'hǣðen', meaning 'not Christian or Jewish', and was used to describe people who practiced polytheistic religions or were perceived as uncivilized. Over time, it acquired derogatory connotations due to its association with non-Christian beliefs. In contemporary usage, 'heathen' is often considered offensive and outdated, with 'pagan' or 'non-believer' preferred in more neutral contexts.